{"id":4131,"date":"2018-03-24T07:27:27","date_gmt":"2018-03-24T07:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wandering-inn\/?p=4131"},"modified":"2025-12-24T00:57:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T00:57:32","slug":"4-21-e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2018\/03\/24\/4-21-e\/","title":{"rendered":"4.21 E"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 61<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I used to be afraid of getting up in the morning. Or rather, reluctant. There are days when I want to crawl into my warm blankets and hide. Sleep is an alluring thing.<\/p>\n

Funny. Having someone I love changes that. I feel Durene\u2019s presence when I sleep and when I wake\u2014she\u2019s inevitably up before I am. And because I miss that, I get up.<\/p>\n

That still doesn\u2019t mean I like the sensation of wandering around Durene\u2019s cottage and getting dressed in the morning any better. Durene is quite warm at night\u2014enough so that blankets are necessary and clothing is not, but in the morning, her absence makes things chilly.<\/p>\n

Is it undignified for an [Emperor] to walk around looking for a clean shirt and arguing with his pet bird? If it is, only Durene sees that aspect of me. When I exit my cottage, I am dressed, fed, and mostly coherent.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s a big day. Just like yesterday. The man from Windrest, Helm, is due to return with his villagers tonight. I sent him back with an escort and the Wildfrozen Riders will have left already to escort the villagers down the road to my village.<\/p>\n

I hope they make it here safely. Goblin attacks are on the rise and many villages are in danger. That\u2019s why this morning I make it a priority to talk with the two adventurers who are waiting for me first.<\/p>\n

\u201cOdveig, Wiskeria, can I trouble you to talk this morning? Durene has some tea hot in the cottage. Prost, is there anything I need to take care of at the moment?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, sire. Gamel and I will await you in the village.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prost gives me a surprisingly elegant bow and he and Gamel retreat. The two female adventurers, the leader and sub-leader of the Celestial Trackers, exchange glances. The shorter one with the mace shifts uncomfortably.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would hate to intrude Mister L\u2014I mean, your majesty!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to worry about formalities, Odveig. I\u2019ve told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, milord.\u201d<\/p>\n

I smile reassuringly at her. She\u2019s clearly uncomfortable around me, still. Wiskeria on the other hand seems to have adjusted to the current situation quite well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite cold out. I\u2019d like to ask about the Goblin attacks and what you know of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh!\u201d<\/p>\n

Odveig seems relieved; I can hear her tone lighten and sense her posture change. She nods at Wiskeria.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s what the problem is, we can talk about the Goblins. There\u2019s nota problem in my eyes, but we\u2019ll know more about the threat once the villagers return, right enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something funny about the way she says \u2018not a\u2019, as if it\u2019s one word. Perhaps it\u2019s because I\u2019m blind, but that instantly puts a smile on my face to hear an accent so nicely distinct.<\/p>\n

Funny, I can\u2019t help but think of her as Scottish or of some similar heritage. Her accent\u2019s a good bit different, but there\u2019s that name and\u2026wait, is Odveig a Scottish name? No\u2026I don\u2019t think so. What country then?<\/p>\n

Ah, does it matter? There\u2019s only so many ways words can be written in any language, and this world\u2019s fixation on the English language means there would be parallels. And why does everyone speak English? Ryoka had a theory\u2026<\/p>\n

I lead the two young women inside\u2014well, Odveig is definitely older than I am, and Wiskeria\u2019s probably older too\u2014and they take a seat on one of Durene\u2019s oversized stools and sip from her mugs. Durene\u2019s already left to help in the village.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like a lovely cottage, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiskeria sits comfortably in Durene\u2019s home. I can\u2019t detect a hint of disingenuity in her voice, so I hope she\u2019s being honest.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s ah, a really nice place, your majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Odveig is a poor liar. I can sense her sitting across from me, looking around anxiously and then at me while she clutches her mug in both hands. She hesitates.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot to pry, but why are you staying here? As I said, it\u2019s wonderful but\u2026wouldn\u2019t it be safer to sleep in the village? I know a few good houses have been dug out\u2014they\u2019d surely be more comfortable than here\u2014not that here is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She stumbles over her words and shuts up, embarrassed. I smile at her again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it would, but this cottage has sentimental value to me, Odveig. I first met Durene here, and it\u2019s a fine place for me to sleep and work from. I seldom stay here anyways; it\u2019s got a few of my possessions, and a bed, which is all a good home needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh. Well. That\u2019s good. Uh, you said you wanted to talk to us about Goblins? Your majesty?\u201d<\/p>\n

I hope she can get over her awkwardness soon. Covering an internal sigh, I reach for my mug. Oops. It\u2019s empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cAllow me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiskeria takes the tea pot over the fire and fills the cup for me quite gracefully. I\u2019m surprised\u2014she could be a [Maid], not a [Witch] for how coordinated she is. I nod to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Wiskeria.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, Wiskeria and Odveig are an odd duo. Odveig\u2019s clearly at home with the mace she uses, but she\u2019s far more awkward outside of battle, and that\u2019s presumably why she turns to Wiskeria for advice so often. Wiskeria the [Witch] often seems to have answers when Odveig falters.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s competent, quiet, well-spoken and\u2026my first pick if it comes to it. But enough about that. I\u2019ll get to know them more over the next few days. I steeple my fingers together as if I\u2019m at a board meeting and lean over the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoblins. I know they\u2019re attacking villages all over the place. Is that normal? It seems like these villages are prey to any kind of monsters that come along. How could anyone survive like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiskeria and Odveig exchange a glance. It\u2019s Wiskeria who speaks for the both of them. I can sense that she wears some kind of glasses\u2014spectacles I think these ones are called. She adjusts the frame as she speaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoblin attacks are common in most places of the world as I\u2019m sure you know, sire. However, around Invrisil, they\u2019re known to be well-coordinated and particularly nasty. Not that they\u2019re particularly common or this vicious\u2014mostly, Goblins will raid a farm and steal what animals they can, make away with a [Farmer]\u2019s stores\u2014sometimes kill, but usually they just want food. These ones are different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s this new Great Goblin Chieftain. There was word a while back\u2014a group of women were found outside the gates of Merendia not two weeks back. Apparently a Goblin tribe of all things left them there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA Goblin tribe? But wait\u2014these women\u2014were they\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n

The silence from both Wiskeria and Odveig confirms my darkest suspicions. Odveig clears her throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just rumor and hearsay, but I heard that this Goblin tribe actually rescued them. Apparently, there\u2019s a huge Goblin tribe living in a nearby mountain\u2014Dwarfhalls Rest it\u2019s called. We had no notion it was occupied, but there\u2019s a Great Goblin Chieftain living there, or so the women claim.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA Great Chieftain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never heard of it myself, your majesty. It\u2019s caused panic all over the nearest cities once they heard of it, especially with this Goblin Lord to the south.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. Goblin Lord south, Great Chieftain around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard keeping track of this Goblin news Durene and the others seem so well-versed in. I\u2019ve never met a Goblin. They sound like horrible monsters, though. Very Tolkein-esque. And a Great Chieftain is apparently bad news. City-ending bad news, which is a horrible thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems this other Goblin tribe splintered from the mountain. The women claimed there was fighting and they were helped to escape. Well, the upshot of that is that the Goblins that still remain in the mountain are hopping mad. Probably lost a lot of food or whatever they were hoarding, so they\u2019re hitting villages and towns with massive raiding parties. Not just a few Goblin stragglers with knives and rocks\u2014Hobgoblins and lots of smaller Goblins with real weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

That sounds like exactly<\/em> the sort of thing I didn\u2019t want to hear. I must look worried, because Wiskeria hastens to assure me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou paid for both our group and the Windfrozen Riders, sire. We\u2019re capable of fighting off any lone raiding party aimed at a village. However, it might be best to take precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed. Thank you for telling me. If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to discuss exactly what you had in mind. These Goblins\u2026say they came to this village. How would you prefer to fight them off?\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the first part of my day. After talking with both adventurers, I immediately head into the village and find Prost.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s busy supervising a bunch of young men and women who are busy cutting down and then cutting up trees. I\u2019m no carpenter, so the flurry of movement is all a mystery to me. But this is the first step on getting those new houses done.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Prost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty! What can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot, unfortunately. I\u2019ve just talked with Wiskeria and Odveig\u2014they\u2019re concerned about Goblin attacks and so am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

My voice is loud enough that the other villagers working on the trees glance up. Prost sounds concerned.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your majesty. We\u2019ve heard the same. It\u2019s customary for a few of the older folk with levels to organize a militia of sorts, but that\u2019s only if we think there\u2019s a handful of Goblins hiding out. If there\u2019s a lot, we can only trust to adventurers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. But that doesn\u2019t mean we have to sit idly knowing there are Goblins around. I was thinking we could add a palisade to the list of things we\u2019re building.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA palisade, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palisades. Fences made of sharpened wood stakes. Prost is certainly familiar with the idea, but Riverfarm never had any walls of any sort. Nevertheless, when I give him the idea he agrees it\u2019s possible. Only\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly, it\u2019s difficult, sire. I have this lot hewing the wood and then planing it for construction with hand-tools, but that\u2019s a far cry from a sawmill, which is what I\u2019d prefer. It\u2019ll be slow going without more hands\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get those soon enough. However, I\u2019m not suggesting we put up walls all the way around the village. A few to block off the most undefended routes would be good to start with. I was thinking around the barn, using the back as a wall, you see?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! Right!\u201d<\/p>\n

Prost and I do a short tour of the village and go over how many trees he\u2019d need for that, and the time it would take. When he goes off to shout that he needs more hands for trees, I wander back over to Gamel. I heard his voice and sensed he was among the workers there.<\/p>\n

\u201cGamel, how\u2019s work going?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young man pauses with some sort of long iron bar in his hands. He\u2019s using it to keep the log steady while others hack at it with axes. It looks complex, and I\u2019m sorry to have stopped him, but he and the others immediately jump to their feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to disrupt you. I just thought I\u2019d ask how you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, sire. I\u2019m happy to be helping and be back in the village. I uh, this is Tessia and Erhart. Tessia\u2019s a childhood friend. She and I, uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Gamel stammers and introduces me to two people, one of whom is a young woman he\u2019s clearly biased towards. They introduce themselves, bowing and curtseying awkwardly\u2014although both are wearing trousers and thick clothing because it\u2019s cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty, I\u2019m honored.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman known as Tessia has a quiet voice as she introduces herself. Erhart seems tongue-tied at meeting me.<\/p>\n

I smile at Tessia, and then remember a young woman with a shard of wood sticking out of her leg as the digging team pulls her out of the snow. She remembers too, and bows low over my hand as I offer it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2014I wanted to say\u2026thank you. I can\u2019t ever say what it means\u2014I thought when I was down there\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice breaks. I grip her hands as Gamel reaches for Tessia\u2019s shaking shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I\u2019m glad I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all. I leave the two to the tree and step away. I\u2019ve had similar conversations with almost all of Riverfarm\u2019s people at one point or another. It\u2019s not embarrassing so much as painful when I speak to them.<\/p>\n

I wish I could have saved them all. But I know that was impossible.<\/p>\n

Something else attracts my attention as I talk about how many trees need to be cut for the new defenses. I sense a large number of bodies entering the outskirts of the village and hear shouts coming from that direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cProst. I think the people from Windrest are here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prost and I hurry over to where the commotion is happening. In my sense of the village I can tell a huge crowd has entered, accompanied by a few donkeys pulling wagons, overloaded carts with valuable possessions\u2014<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a nightmare. I didn\u2019t expect an entire village\u2019s worth of people! No\u2014I did expect it, but seeing the population of Riverfarm double in a moment blows me away. If I didn\u2019t have my inner view of the village, the noise alone would render my sense of hearing useless.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere he is!\u201d<\/p>\n

I hear a voice. Helm is shouting and waving towards me and Prost as we stride towards the crowd. I hear the majority of voices cut off, and then every eye is on me. A few people begin whispering incredulously in the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that him? Is that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn [Emperor]? In Izril?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s he got his eyes closed? You can\u2019t mean he\u2019s truly blind? Not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAttention!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Prost\u2019s voice shouts across the entire village. I can sense the man standing tall beside me. He waves a hand and the villagers fall still. Oh, well if Prost\u2019s got it\u2014I relax a bit. Too soon!<\/p>\n

\u201cKneel before Emperor Laken, the Protector of Riverfarm! In his mercy, he has allowed you to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

I elbow Prost in the side and cut him off before he can say anything more. Okay, not<\/em> what I hoped he would say. I clear my throat, and take a few steps forwards. Every eye is on me. I speak, calmly, reassuringly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Laken Godart. An [Emperor].\u201d<\/p>\n

Voices. Murmuring. I wait for silence, and go on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI welcome you to Riverfarm, people of Windrest. Please know that you will be safe here. However, while you stay in my domain, you must obey me as your ruler.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shock\u2014I wish I could see their expressions, with my eyes. I sense people shifting around me. But I don\u2019t move. I am that I am. Calm. This is how it is.<\/p>\n

\u201cI own these lands. If you cannot accept that, I am afraid there is no place for you. But know this: while you are here, I will do everything in my power to protect you. You have my word on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence. Then I hear someone clapping. Prost. This time it\u2019s what\u2019s needed. The people of Riverfarm begin cheering my name, and then I hear the people of Windrest take up the feeling. They shout my name and cluster around me.<\/p>\n

Do they believe I\u2019m an [Emperor]? I don\u2019t know, but Durene tells me I have a look about me that makes me different. And whatever they believe, I\u2019ve promised them safety. So they shout my name and a man fights his way to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty, it\u2019s me! Helm, sire!\u201d<\/p>\n

I find my hand being shaken rapidly by huge, callused hands that nearly break mine. I extricate myself from Helm\u2019s grip as he shouts at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re ready to work, sire! I know there\u2019s houses needing to be dug out and more built\u2014us Windrest folk have brought our tools and there\u2019s some good [Carpenters] and [Builders] among us! Just say the word and we\u2019ll do what needs doing, milord! I\u2019m a [Blacksmith]! I have my anvil\u2014I\u2019d sorely love to ply my trade here, if your lordship\u2019s willing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t I hear that Izril has a lot of [Lords] and [Ladies]? It seems like I\u2019m being treated like a more outstanding version of one. I nod at Helm, raising my voice so the people around me can hear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have work for you soon, Mister Helm. If you\u2019ve an anvil, all the better. We could use nails, repairs to tools that were damaged in the avalanche, more nails\u2026there\u2019s always work for a [Blacksmith], as I\u2019m sure you\u2019re aware.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYessir! And the rest of my kin\u2014I\u2019ve a cousin and two daughters, what will they\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Helm\u2019s voice is anxious. I place a hand on his shoulder\u2014amazing the people around me since I\u2019m talking and moving with my eyes closed\u2014and reassure the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone will work, don\u2019t you worry, Mister Helm. So long as people work, they\u2019ll have a roof over their heads and a warm belly and a place to sleep. We might have to build the roofs first, but\u2026if you have any concerns, Prost, my [Steward], will handle them.\u201d<\/p>\n

When I mention Prost\u2019s class I hear gasps, none more loudly than Helm\u2019s own. As if my words have summoned him, Prost strides into the crowd and takes the attention of the group off of me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe [Emperor]\u2019s not a man who has the time to deal with you louts himself! Line up\u2014divide yourselves by classes, the lot of you! I\u2019ll put families together once we\u2019ve sleeping places sorted out\u2014leave your tools and such over there! We\u2019ll organize it later I said! And we\u2019ll share what we have\u2014no hoarding! Helm, who\u2019s the [Village Head] around here?\u201d<\/p>\n

I walk away from the group and watch Prost get to work. He\u2019s efficient. The people of Windrest know what to do, and when he tells them where to put their belongings and what needs doing, experienced workers like the [Carpenters] immediately peel off and get to work on the felled trees, while other [Woodcutters] grab axes and head towards people cutting.<\/p>\n

More people go to the barn to help unload the carts, quite a number of women and a few men stay to manage the children, and in the midst of it all, an old man with a limp, bad posture, and a desperate note in his voice grabs me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty, I beg a word.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJelov, your majesty! I\u2019m afraid that your man Prost might not have a job for me! I\u2014I\u2019m old and might not be worth the effort of keeping, but I beg your mercy! Please!\u201d<\/p>\n

He looks desperate, and no wonder. He\u2019s the oldest person I\u2019ve seen in this world, and his hands are as contorted as his back. I calm him down and take him a few feet away from the crowd around Prost.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s work for you Jelov. What\u2019s your class?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWoodworking sire!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh? Well, if you\u2019re a [Carpenter]\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s voice contorts with equal measures agony and indignation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m no [Carpenter], your eminence. I\u2019m a [Carver]\u2014damned class though it is! I carve toys of wood, hilts, handles\u2014my hands can\u2019t hold an axe in my old age, much less lift all that weight! There\u2019s not a call for it at the moment, not now with folks building and whatnot. No need for toys when there\u2019s not enough places to sleep, but it\u2019s all I can do!\u201d<\/p>\n

He looks pleadingly at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t dare ask normally, but I\u2019ve a granddaughter and if I can\u2019t work\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you can work! If carving\u2019s what you do, we\u2019ll let you carve, Jelov. Toys? Why wouldn\u2019t we need them? Children have to play after a disaster, and I\u2019d consider it a blessing to have things to occupy them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old man\u2019s eyes widen as I interrupt him. He looks so relieved he might faint. I can see why\u2014if a village is in dire straits, the elderly might be the first to be deemed expendable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy thank you sire, I\u2019d do whatever needs doing\u2014I could fletch too, although I\u2019m a slow hand if it\u2019s not with a carving knife\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no. Carving\u2019s just the thing. You could help me with a project I need doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is it coincidence Jelov found me? I recall one of the things\u2014a piece of advice I\u2019d been given. Intrigued, Jelov cocks his head to one side, his beard blowing in the wind.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d like something carved, [Emperor] Laken, sire? I can do detailed woodwork. A piece for your mantle?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore like a pole in the ground. I\u2019m thinking of a large wooden pole, Jelov, the kind of thing you could plant in the ground and leave for years. Like a signpost, only\u2026etched.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEtched? Ah, you mean illustrated with letters and so on, sire? I could do that! Is there a name for this piece you\u2019d want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLess of a piece, and more of a marker. Let\u2019s call it a, uh, totem pole of sorts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old man starts looking worried again, and just when I\u2019d calmed him down.<\/p>\n

\u201cTotem, sire? What kind of wood is totem? We\u2019ve naught but cedar trees around here mainly, although I know a good birch\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, not that. It\u2019s a kind of carving. Which I\u2019d greatly desire. Do you think you could take a large block of wood, around this wide\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

I measure a square about a hand-and-a-half wide in each direction and eight feet high for Jelov and tell him what I\u2019m thinking. Soon the old man\u2019s stroking at his beard and chattering to me, spraying me and the nearby surroundings with a bit of spit as he does. His earlier timidness is gone as his love of the craft\u2014and pride\u2014takes over.<\/p>\n

\u201cA pole like that? Pshaw\u2014<\/em>oops, sorry \u2018bout that, your majesty. Carving a few fancy shapes into this much wood? Naught a problem. See, the issue\u2019s in varnishing and I know a few young lads who\u2019d do it right quick if you let me have them\u2014and I\u2019ve the oils and resins I bought from an [Alchemist]. Served me well these last few years\u2014no, I could have it carved up in a day or two. The processing\u2019s the thing, see? And design of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo quickly?\u201d<\/p>\n

I edge away from Jelov, but he just crabs over to me, talking excitedly. Aw, well, who needs a dry face anyways? Isn\u2019t spit good for the skin?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not this old for nothing, sire! I\u2019ve many a Skill\u2014reckon I could get a good start, just so long as I know what you\u2019re wanting. Got anything in particular you want on it, or just some fancy etchings? I can do fancy\u2014folk think I\u2019ve written mage symbols when they\u2019re nothing but scribbling on the bark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an idea, thank you. I\u2019d like the top to have a symbol. This would be a, uh, marker of sorts, so I want it to show that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, right. What kind of symbol?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about\u2026an eye?\u201d<\/p>\n

I really hadn\u2019t thought this part through too much. I need a symbol of my domain, so an eye naturally pops into my mind. I sketch an Egyptian-style eye into the ground and Jelov nods appreciatively.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot hard at all. You want two of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne\u2019s fine. It would go here at the top, and then maybe carve a line to separate it\u2026can you put the eye in a, ah, triangle? A pyramid? It would look like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh, now that\u2019s occult, sire. Feels like it\u2019s staring at me, so it does. And them little lines\u2014are they bricks?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Yes, that\u2019s a pyramid. An ancient structure. And below it, some ground\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh! A floating eye in a pyramid-thingy! Very good. I can carve that no problem sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelov\u2019s making encouraging noises, probably taken with the symbol I\u2019m designing for him. Myself, I feel a bit\u2026embarrassed. It\u2019s not as if I\u2019m coming up with the design, obviously.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just a silly thought. But the Eye of Providence\u2014a part of the U.S. bill and often associated with the Illuminati\u2014is a cool symbol. It makes for as good an inscription as any, and I have a sense that this totem pole, this marker, needs<\/em> to have this kind of symbol.<\/p>\n

Because it will represent my people, my village. Me. And I can always change it later.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the head taken care of your majesty. What\u2019s the next bit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext bit? Uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of totem pole to go. I frown, thinking on the go.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about some fancy symbols below it? You could do a\u2014a hawk. And a village, maybe? And then you write on it sideways\u2014\u2018Claimed by Emperor Laken Godart\u2019. How about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelov\u2019s busy drawing in the dirt. When he\u2019s done, I stare at the plans for a totem pole practically covered by \u2018fancy occult stuff\u2019 that has the old man rubbing his hands together in glee. I smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdd whatever you think might be good. Maybe carve it so it\u2019s not just a rectangle of wood? I\u2019ll leave it to you, but when you have the final design, show it to me. I\u2019ll\u2026need quite a few once we have the design set.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt once, your [Emperor]-ness! I\u2019ll uh, need a piece of wood\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have Prost get some to you right away. And helpers if you need it, but for now the pole?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt once! Don\u2019t you worry milord, I\u2019ll have the pole ready to show you tomorrow. Let me just find my best knife\u2014have to cut with the best tools I say. Have you met my daughter? Want to show her the trade, by your lord\u2019s leave of course. A natural. Woodworking\u2019s in the family blood. You\u2019ll see\u2014it\u2019ll be my finest work, my word on it. Won\u2019t let you down. I recall one time I did a piece\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Somehow, I get away from Jelov and by the time I do, the village is bustling with activity. Prost is in the thick of it, and I find myself talking with people, reassuring them, pointing out my adventurers and\u2026being an [Emperor], I guess. I have an answer for every trivial problem, which isn\u2019t hard, but I\u2019m doing it and everyone\u2019s watching, which is apparently all they need.<\/p>\n

The sun has set by the time I have a bowl of hot soup in my hands and am eating it standing up. I\u2019m exhausted from talking, but I have time for one last person who approaches me on horseback.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat news, Beniar?\u201d<\/p>\n

The adventurer and captain of the Windfrozen Riders ducks his head towards me, for once not showering me with compliments or praising himself. He sounds grim, and a bit worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrouble, your majesty. Windrest was mostly devastated, but it\u2019s hardly the only village. I met a group of travelers on the road heading straight for Invrisil\u2014they say their village was attacked and torched. The Goblins took everything and slaughtered everyone they caught. They\u2019re killing this time, not just raiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

I feel coldness inside my heart. Goblins. I nod to the village.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think they\u2019ll come here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless they get what they want, it\u2019s a surety, sire. We\u2019ll double our patrols, but I\u2019d be more comforted if I knew how many Goblins might come our way. We can handle Hobgoblins, a large band, even a Goblin [Shaman] if one of those bastards is hiding among them. But Goblins can come at any time, from anywhere<\/em>. That\u2019s what makes them dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand. And I have a plan to deal with that, Beniar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you, your majesty?\u201d<\/p>\n

He sounds skeptical. I just smile at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He hesitates. I can hear him getting off his horse, and then shouting for some soup for himself and fodder for his mount.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some reason, I do your majesty. Emperor Laken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a bit uncomfortable with Emperor Laken, but it is who I am. And Beniar seems to think so too. I sense him nodding towards the villagers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a [Lord] shaking common folk\u2019s hands before, much less an [Emperor]. It gives them hope. I\u2026I\u2019m glad you care about villagers, sire. I was one once, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVillagers. Lords. We\u2019re all people, Beniar.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughs shortly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but you\u2019d not see a [Lord] care so for common folk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Then\u2014here.\u201d<\/p>\n

I hold one of my hands out to Beniar while I cradle the hot soup bowl with the other. He stares at it. I waggle my fingers impatiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on, shake it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He does, tentatively. I smile at him and take another hot spoonful of soup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell? How does it feel? You\u2019ve just shaken hands with an [Emperor]. I\u2019m no [Lord], Beniar. I\u2019m better than that. I care about all of my subjects. And I\u2019ll protect them no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stares at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that include us, sire? Me and my riders?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve hired you. While you work for me, I\u2019ll do my best to make sure you\u2019re as safe as anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s reassuring to hear, your majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is, isn\u2019t it? Let\u2019s work hard to make sure I\u2019m not made into a liar, Beniar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Emperor Level 10!]<\/p>\n

[Skill \u2013 Empire: Low-born Militias Obtained!]<\/p>\n

[Skill \u2013 Rallying Presence Obtained!]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Is there an instruction manual or something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhuzzat, Laken?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Day 62<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

People skills. That\u2019s all being an [Emperor] is. People skills. Or is it more like a video game about allocating resources? My job as an [Emperor] is not to manage the details of what I do\u2014I have Prost, Helm, and the other older villagers to take that duty off of me. I look at the grand scheme, give broad orders, deal with situations\u2014<\/p>\n

And make sure people do what\u2019s most effective. Which is why Beniar\u2019s enthusiasm can be a problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive us the order, and we\u2019ll bring back enough game to feed the village, sire! My team can cover countless miles and be back by the end of the day!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beniar seems determined to be of help the next day, but in an odd way. He\u2019s offered to hunt, and I admit, having a food source might be just the thing now that we have far more mouths to feed than I had projected for. Prost calculates that we have enough supplies to last for a month, but not through till spring anymore.<\/p>\n

Still, I shake my head as I talk with Beniar and the other adventurers in the morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather have your people patrolling. A few hunters might be acceptable Beniar, but your riders need to patrol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you say, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s disappointed, but his idea is solid. I turn to Odveig and Wiskeria.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think you could hunt with your group, Odveig? Wiskeria? If the Windfrozen Riders patrolled, I think we could spare the Celestial Trackers.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not a mounted group, so the idea seems fine to me. Wiskeria voices her agreement immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could send several groups out, sire. There are trails of deer and other animals we picked up\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Odveig who interrupts her, shaking her head adamantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a good idea, Wiskeria. I think we\u2019ll keep our group here by your leave, your majesty. There could be trouble and I\u2019d hate to fail our contract if we don\u2019t keep you safe from all dangers.\u201d<\/p>\n

She frowns at Wiskeria and I frown too. But Odveig is<\/em> the leader and she makes sense. The Mossbear could wake up, or something else could happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re sure. In that case Beniar, I\u2019ll let you take three of your riders and hunt\u2026the rest will spread out with the Celestial Trackers nearby\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Every day has a challenge. Today\u2019s is rats. Apparently, the new ground Prost is trying to dig up has rats.<\/p>\n

In the winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are there rats, Mister Prost?\u201d<\/p>\n

I walk around the edge of the new village boundary. I can vaguely sense this place, mainly because the villagers are laying down the foundations of the new houses as we speak. Prost grimaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe little devils have to make their burrows somewhere, Emperor Laken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but\u2026what do they eat? How can they survive?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s root stores in the ground, and the rodents prey on our fields. I reckon there\u2019s a few burrows here\u2014they\u2019ll infest the houses and cause a mess if we can\u2019t get rid of them first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight\u2026how do we do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Prost sighs, sounding vexed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly way is to dig up all the ground about here with pitchforks and kill the damned vermin as they come out.\u201d<\/p>\n

I frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds like it\u2019ll take a lot of time and effort we don\u2019t want to spare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sire, but it\u2019s the only way. We don\u2019t know where they could be hiding\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Wait. I frown as Prost says that. Rats, hiding in the ground? I feel like\u2026I feel like I might be able to solve this one. I cut Prost off and stare at the ground. This area is mine. Vaguely mine. And I can sense what goes on in the ground, can\u2019t I? I saved the villagers that way. So why can\u2019t I look\u2014<\/p>\n

Down.<\/p>\n

My senses go beneath the earth. I sense thick, rich loam beneath my feet, roots\u2014the remains of a grass stalk and its system. And across from me\u2014two feet down, a tunnel network. Something moves in it. Big, furry, chewing at a bug that wriggles through the soil\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEmperor Laken? Sire?\u201d<\/p>\n

A hand touches my shoulder and I nearly jump out of my skin. I start, look around. Prost is staring at me with concern in his eyes. I blink at him, and then grin weakly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Prost, I think I can solve our problems. But we\u2019ll need a way to kill the rats when they come up. Unless you\u2019re planning on stomping the rats to death or hacking them apart?\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I could stand to see that. But Prost only smiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sire, we\u2019ve a time and tested way to deal with that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dogs. Eight dogs of varying shapes and colors snuffle around my feet and sniff me, wagging their tails as they circle around Prost and a group of [Farmers] with shovels and pitchforks. I watch as Prost sticks his pitchfork into the loose, frozen earth that\u2019s been broken up and lift it with a grunt.<\/p>\n

Something squeaks<\/em>. I recoil, and the dogs go nuts as a group of rats unearthed by the pitchfork flee. The dogs growl and run down the rodents in moments. The [Farmers] cheer them on, whistling as they unearth more rats which the dogs hunt down with almost contemptuous ease.<\/p>\n

Terriers. The world\u2019s finest ratters. Of course, that\u2019s what they were bred for, back when they weren\u2019t just pets but companions. I feel stupid for not thinking of it, but I\u2019m both gratified and entertained to see the dogs in their elements. They clearly love to hunt down the rat nests which I can pinpoint with ease.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. Just like the villagers trapped under the snow, I can see under the ground. And that means I can see every rat that\u2019s infested the fields we\u2019re trying to turn into a new area for houses.<\/p>\n

It feels almost dirty to have this ability. And I have to say, when Prost\u2019s pitchfork comes up with a tiny impaled rat on it, still squeaking and struggling, I feel awful. But they are rats. They\u2019ll destroy a field and breed until they start eating each other given half a chance, and Prost and the other farmers clearly hate them with a passion.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamned fine work, your majesty!\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the farmers shouts at me, earning a jab from his friends for swearing, but I only grin and wave at him. This is one of the cases where my [Emperor] talents really help the villagers in a concrete way. I wonder if all [Emperors] can see their lands like I do. Am I just attuned to these senses more than others because I\u2019m blind?<\/p>\n

Ah, well, I can\u2019t tell.<\/p>\n

I hear a squawk as another group of rats makes it to the surface to be pounced upon by the dogs the villagers of Windrest brought with them. I look over and hear fluttering wings.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrostwing giving you trouble, Gamel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she wishes to join in the hunt, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gamel struggles with my pet bird. Frostwing\u2019s bigger than ever and antsy at being cooped up in Durene\u2019s cottage all day, so I\u2019ve asked Gamel to bring her with me when I walk around the village. It might have been a mistake. Frostwing is struggling as she perches on his arm\u2014he has to wear a cloth armguard to keep her talons from puncturing his skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalm down, Frostwing.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shuts up for a second, and I can sense her head turning to glare at me. I nod to Prost.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s another nest.\u201d<\/p>\n

I tap the ground and the man comes over and sticks his pitchfork in the dirt. The dogs tense and he heaves\u2014rats go flying.<\/p>\n

Frostwing shrieks as the rats run about. I hear Gamel struggling to keep the bird steady on his arm as she flaps wildly. Then her wings open. She launches herself from his arm.<\/p>\n

She flies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Five feet. Frostwing smacks<\/em> into a rat as it tries to scurry away from one of the dogs. She knocks the rodent aside and then hops towards it, wings spread aggressively. I see Prost yanking one of the excited dogs back as Frostwing pecks at the large rat with her sharp beak. It tries to flee and she hops right after it.<\/p>\n

There have been epic battles waged in the name of survival between different animal groups. The duel between the lone rat and the fledgling Frostwing is not one of them. She pecks at the rat and the rat tries to run. Frostwing pursues, hopping rather than flying, and I give her a bit of assistance, blocking the rat with my foot.<\/p>\n

Hop, peck. Hop, peck. In the end Frostwing downs the rat, but I have to say, she does not deserve the sense of satisfied pride I feel from her in my mind. As my bird savages the rat she\u2019s killed and begins to disembowel it, I kneel by her side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s a good bird? You are. You\u2019re a good bird. Even if you are fairly bad at your job.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pecks at me with a bloody beak, and then flares her wings aggressively as one of the villager\u2019s dogs sniffs near her. It retreats, whining, and I decide to pick Frostwing up before she can cause trouble. She agrees to perch on my arm only after grabbing her kill in one talon. On the way back to the cottage she drops the rat. Twice. Nothing would do but I let her grab it again.<\/p>\n

Ah, birds. They\u2019re quite stupid. Dumber than dogs at times, which I\u2019ll admit is difficult. But I love mine even so.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEmperor Laken! Your majesty, I have your pole of totems! Here! Won\u2019t you inspect it?\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the day Jelov comes to me with a finished pole, just as he\u2019s promised. I inspect the pole with my hands, running my fingertips along the carvings, and feeling the deep-cut symbols in the wood. I get a splinter. Twice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not smoothed yet, and there\u2019s work to be done rounding and varnishing, but if you\u2019re satisfied, I can copy the design onto however many poles you want, sire!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will be excellent, Jelov. You\u2019re a fine craftsman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, your majesty!\u201d<\/p>\n

He beams. I wonder whether anyone else in the world has ever been so happy to have their work praised by a blind man. But this new totem pole has caught people\u2019s imaginations. Certainly Durene\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so creepy<\/em>, Laken! Are you sure you have to have the floating eye-thing? I keep thinking it\u2019s staring at me and Jelov\u2019s carved it onto all four sides, so it\u2019s staring at you no matter where you\u2019re facing!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important because it\u2019s a marker, Durene. The symbol marks who I am. Okay, maybe it was a mistake to make it the Eye of Providence, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, if it\u2019s a symbol,<\/em> that\u2019s fine. I was worried it\u2019d be on our flag or something!\u201d<\/p>\n

I have to laugh as I sit next to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlag? Our flag? What are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene turns to me, surprised, as she munches on some fresh bread that Prost\u2019s wife, Yesel baked in one of the ovens we uncovered this morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we\u2019re obviously going to have a flag. This is your empire, right? Our empire, I mean. You\u2019re going to rule us so we\u2019ve got to have a flag! And a name! I think the Unseen Empire sounds cool, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The question throws me completely for a second. An empire? I suppose that is the logical step, but I\u2019ve just seen what I\u2019m doing as managing a village. But Durene\u2019s already talking about it as if it\u2019s an empire. I try to quell the uneasiness her words provoke with a slight joke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re far away from an empire, Durene. We\u2019re just a village\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo villages, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. But the people of Windrest are just staying here because they\u2019re afraid. Once the Goblins are gone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll still be your subjects. They said so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people of Windrest, silly! You promised to keep them safe, remember? It\u2019s as good as being protected by a [Lord], they say, only you\u2019re real<\/em>. I don\u2019t think they\u2019d go anywhere even if the Goblins were gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement leaves me flabbergasted. Silent. Durene chews happily.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant some bread? It\u2019s really good and doughy, the way I like it! Laken? Hello? Laken?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Beast Tamer Level 5!]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Day 63<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The reports of Goblin attacks continue. Beniar brings in two travelers on the road who say their caravan has been attacked by Goblins, a group of well-armed ones that looted their wagons and slaughtered their guards in a moment. I take them into the village. What am I supposed to do?<\/p>\n

The situation with the Goblin incursions is clearly getting worse. I have an impromptu meeting with Beniar, Odveig, Prost, and Wiskeria and come to a quick decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrain them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who wants to be trained. My village needs soldiers to protect it, and not just your adventurers.\u201d<\/p>\n

I rest my hands on the table and stare at Beniar, Odveig, and Wiskeria. They sound uncertain, but my mind\u2019s made up. Odveig coughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBegging your pardon sire, but we\u2019re adventurers, not instructors. We can teach basic swordplay and fighting skills I suppose, but\u2014but we can\u2019t lead a group. And it\u2019ll take weeks to make proper warriors out of most of this lot!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry. I have a\u2026Skill that might help matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

I grin at Odveig. I gained the [Empire: Low-born Militias] skill two days ago and I\u2019ve been wondering what it does. I can\u2019t help but suspect it would grant my subjects some combat prowess on the field. As for [Rallying Presence]\u2014I can\u2019t help but feel that\u2019s one of the reasons why Windrest\u2019s villagers have grown to trust me so quickly.<\/p>\n

Regardless, relying on the two adventuring teams I\u2019ve hired isn\u2019t a good move long-term, which is why I\u2019ve come up with this idea. I nod towards the [Witch] as she adjusts her pointy hat. Indoors. I guess she just likes wearing it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWiskeria, do you think you could teach some of the people with magical aptitudes some magic? Gamel knows a fire spell, but it\u2019s not useful for anything but lighting quick fires. If he could throw fire on the other hand\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could teach them a bit, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll show your young folk some swordplay your majesty, don\u2019t fret! If Odveig wants to look out for Goblins, I\u2019ll gladly demonstrate my Skills!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beniar is only too happy with the idea, of course. I smile sardonically.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re willing Beniar, I\u2019d be grateful. However, I\u2019d like you to take a certain student under your wing personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho? Your man Gamel? I could turn him into a decent [Warrior] with enough time. It\u2019d be my pleasure\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tent goes silent. I sense Beniar gaping at me, but it\u2019s Wiskeria who agrees first.<\/p>\n

\u201cDurene? She\u2019s stronger than anyone I\u2019ve met. As strong as a Minotaur. Stronger perhaps, with her [Enhanced Strength] Skill. Give her a sword and we\u2019d have a warrior capable of facing down a Hob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s untrained! And there\u2019s not a sword that would fit her hands. We\u2019d need a custom-built greatsword, and that would cost\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Odveig protests, but my mind is made up. Within the hour, I have Durene, Gamel, and a bevy of young men and a surprising number of young women who have volunteered to train with the adventurers.<\/p>\n

Beniar\u2019s all for teaching everyone how to use a bunch of practice swords that Jelov and some [Carpenters] have thrown together, but I stop him and ask him to run the trainees through some exercises first.<\/p>\n

\u201cExercises, your majesty? What, like swinging a sword? I can do that, but holding a sword\u2019s important. Half of your folk look like they\u2019d cut their thumbs off, swinging the swords like they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nod, watching Durene lift a huge club made from hammered-together bits of wood. It looks like a poor weapon, but I can\u2019t help but wonder how much damage it would do if she smacked me<\/em> with it. Certainly the other villagers are keeping away from her, and she\u2019s using a partially-converted door as a shield. It still has the door handle on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know swordplay is important, but from what I understand, classes and Skills still rely on the body of each individual and their skill, don\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue\u2026I suppose I could have them train their bodies a bit. Although your villagers are fairly hale, milord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHale isn\u2019t the same as trained. I\u2019m thinking of giving them a little test first. Some running, arm exercises\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n

I nod to the excited villagers and eye Riverfarm. It\u2019s an expanded mess of tents and lean-tos as the first few proper houses are going up. But the snow\u2019s mostly cleared by now and there\u2019s a good path for people to run around in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix laps around the village might be good. It\u2019s not too far. If they do that every day when they wake, I think it would help. And pushups. Sit-ups\u2026I\u2019ll show you how to do burpees. It\u2019s a delightful exercise that everyone\u2019s sure to love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is there a bit of devil in me? Perhaps. I smile a bit as I see Beniar go over to the villagers and watch their enthusiasm drain away when they hear what they\u2019re going to be doing. I also studiously ignore Durene\u2019s glare as Beniar leads the villagers away at a run.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m no expert at swordplay. I have listened to descriptions of how soldiers train, though, and I am aware that a fit body matters a lot in battle. Is this the right method, teaching villagers how to do exercises that have half of them groaning with muscle pains by the end of it? Maybe, maybe not.<\/p>\n

All I know is that by the end of the training session, the excited young villagers are a lot less excited about the prospect of training to be [Warriors]. By the time Beniar has them learning to hold a sword, half of them are looking longingly towards the other villagers and their normal duties.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where I step in. Everyone turns to stare at me as I walk forwards. Beniar\u2019s busy showing them how to strike properly. I raise my voice and address them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad so many of you want to learn to fight. But please know this: if you want to train, I\u2019ll expect you to do what you just did every day, not just today. You\u2019ll have days to rest, but you\u2019ll be exercising like this as well as training and doing your jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young men and women look horrified at the thought. Durene opens her mouth, and I shake my head slightly at her. No favoritism. I look at them all, and then do a rare thing. I open my eyes slightly. I can\u2019t see obviously, but I want to look into their eyes like I\u2019ve heard all good leaders do.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know how you feel. These exercises are grueling. But that\u2019s the point. Learning to fight is not fun. It\u2019s not easy. In fact, if you want to fight, you\u2019ll have to work twice as hard as everyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s silence. I\u2019m sure if I let them go now, not more than one or two would turn up tomorrow. Which is why the next bit has to count. I look at them all, trying to convey my feelings as openly as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might ask why you have to work so hard. Well, it\u2019s because being a [Soldier], being a [Warrior] isn\u2019t an easy job. You\u2019re fighting for your life. Not just your lives either\u2014you\u2019ll be fighting to defend your families, your loved ones\u2014it\u2019s not a game. If you want to learn to fight, I\u2019ll gladly let the adventurers train you, but only if you are serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all. I nod to them and step back. I sense the villagers looking at each other. I don\u2019t know how many will come back tomorrow, but to my surprise, Prost comes over for part of the sword fighting lessons. I don\u2019t make him run around the village. He runs about enough without that.<\/p>\n

Helm and a few of the other older villagers know how to fight too. Beniar trains with them and some of the adventurers and puts the young people through their paces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

I ask him that when the adventurer has returned to drink some water. Beniar mops sweat from his brow and frowns at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s luck or a Skill you have, your majesty, but I\u2019d swear half of those villagers could put up a good fight if you gave them arms. I\u2019d hate to be a [Bandit] gang that tries to rob this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Goblins?\u201d<\/p>\n

He grimaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour average Goblin? Hardly a threat, sire. But Goblins around Invrisil are nasty. They have to be\u2014we purge every tribe we come across as a matter of course. And the monsters around here get nasty. So the Goblins\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre just as nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust so, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, keep training them. I\u2019ll\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

I break off. Frowning, I stare away from the village, in the direction of our cottage. Beniar stares at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s someone in my cottage.\u201d<\/p>\n

I sense it. But when I get there with a panting Durene and Beniar, there\u2019s no one to be found. However, Frostwing is shrieking her brains out. I ask Durene to look around, but nothing seems to be missing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it was someone from Windrest?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

I frown, but there\u2019s nothing I can do, and there\u2019s certainly no reason for me to post a guard on the cottage. Still, I wish I could identify people precisely with my [Emperor] senses. Who would want to check out my cottage in the first place?<\/p>\n

It might just be a coincidence. But the next day, I find something else unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Day 65<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure we should do this, Laken?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s voice quavers a bit as I hike up the slope with her in the lead. I\u2019m grasping the back of her shirt as she walks. I\u2019d normally use my cane, but I\u2019ve grown so accustomed to moving about without it that I leave it in the cottage most days.<\/p>\n

However, my [Emperor] senses don\u2019t extend beyond the village limits, and so I\u2019m blind out here. Blind, and possibly making the dumbest mistake of my life.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re trudging up a small hill towards the bear\u2019s cave. Yes, the Mossbear\u2019s cave. Durene has a large basket of dried fruits, cured meat, and other goodies. All things a bear might like.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are we doing this, Laken? Couldn\u2019t we just let it sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but the trouble is, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s asleep anymore, Durene. The bear woke up once\u2014it might wake up again. And I\u2019d rather not have it go looking for food, especially if we can parley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can. Just let me do the talking. You hang back a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if it charges at you? I\u2019m coming with you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

In truth, I\u2019m grateful. It\u2019s one thing to have a stupid idea, and another thing to carry it out. But the Celestial Trackers have said the Mossbear is moving from his cave now and then, and I\u2019ve been worried about what he might do.<\/p>\n

What would you<\/em> do if a bear was active in your vicinity? Run from it? Set a trap? Hunt it? Bury it in its cave? All of these options were given to me, and so I chose the dumbest idea I could think of myself: feed it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not entirely insane. I\u2019ve explained my reasoning to Durene and she doesn\u2019t buy it, but it makes sense to me. I was able to speak to the bear once. Intimidate it. Get it to leave. True, I had a bunch of scary humans and Durene with me at the time, but I am <\/em>a [Beast Tamer]. And what is a bear if not a beast?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just\u2026a lot bigger than Frostwing is, that\u2019s all. I feel Durene stop and stop with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust ahead. I can see the entrance. Laken, if it attacks\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeniar\u2019s waiting with a group of his riders. If the bear\u2019s angry, he\u2019ll lure it away. Just run, and take me with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it comes after you I\u2019ll kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a steel core of determination in Durene\u2019s voice. It shocks me for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t risk yourself, please. Running is fine. I know you\u2019re strong, but I couldn\u2019t bear for you to get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHah!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBear. You said bear\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, right. Haha.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m too nervous to laugh at my own pun. I reach out and feel Durene deposit the heavy basket into my arms. I step forwards with it, and guided by Durene\u2019s voice, place it at the entrance of the cave.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello? Bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

Something<\/em> ahead of me growls. I back up fast, and hear Durene move. I hear movement\u2014and wish with all my heart I could sense what\u2019s ahead of me. I get the impression of something big and heavy<\/em> coming my way, and then a wet snuffle. The bear is investigating the basket, but it smells both me and Durene. It growls warningly.<\/p>\n

Time for my brilliant plan to go into action. I clear my throat nervously.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, hi.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bear growls. <\/em>I hear Durene shift and raise a hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, I\u2019m friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bear doesn\u2019t seem to listen. I hear it take a step and then Durene speaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStop.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

This time the bear stops dead. I stare ahead, sightless, and hear Durene\u2019s breath catch. Yes, now the feeling\u2019s in me. Will. That is what an [Emperor] is. I project it at the bear, ordering it.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to me. I am not your enemy.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

It makes a whining sound and I think it backs up. I step forwards and Durene squeaks. But in this moment, as I am, there is no fear. An [Emperor] cannot be afraid when he is ordering a subject, and this bear is<\/em> my subject. That\u2019s how I must think of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at me. See? I am a friend. Friend. And this is food. For you.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like speaking to Frostwing, I feel. I have a bond with my bird that allows me to feel what she\u2019s thinking. With the bear, I have no such link, but I can still imagine what he\u2019s feeling. Confusion, hunger, maybe a bit of fear\u2014but I am not his enemy.<\/p>\n

And I think my voice reaches him. The bear doesn\u2019t retreat and he doesn\u2019t whine\u2014instead he makes a whuffing sound that sounds tentative, almost inquisitive. I smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello there. I\u2019m Laken. Who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shuffling. Durene makes another noise and I turn to signal her to stay put. And then\u2014fur. I jerk in surprise and feel the bear\u2019s face jerk back from me. Durene moves.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay put, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

I breathe the words. The bear is only a few inches away from me. I can smell his sour breath, hot on my face. He\u2019s sniffing at me almost like a dog, and I can feel his size. My knees want to quiver. A small, primate part of me wants to shriek and flee. But the rest of me is calm.<\/p>\n

He is not my enemy. He is my subject.<\/p>\n

And then the bear nudges my face with his. He blows hot air into my face\u2014I sneeze on him. We become friends.<\/p>\n

Of a sort. The bear is wary, but when it\u2019s clear neither I nor Durene are openly hostile, he immediately turns his attention to the basket. It\u2019s got all the food I know bears love. He paws at it, knocking the basket over and begins gulping down the food on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken, do you think I\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene starts towards the bear and it backs up in surprise. I wince as it nearly tramples my foot with its claws.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter not, Durene. I think you might be a threat to him. You\u2019re as big as he is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake that back! I\u2019m not as big\u2014well, maybe I\u2019m sort of\u2014he\u2019s a lot heavier than I am!\u201d<\/p>\n

I can hear Durene flushing, but the moment breaks the tension. The bear continues eating. I poke it in the side and it doesn\u2019t even feel the gesture. So I take the moment to run my hands along the bear\u2019s side. It grunts. In pleasure?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s voice is wandering. I can hear her edging around the bear for a better view, and then her voice lifts in surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, what\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s what, Durene? Is there something in the cave?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, on the bear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat on the bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks\u2014looks like there\u2019s a patch of his fur missing. I can\u2019t see at this range.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, what? Where?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong the neck. Can you find it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tentatively, moving very slowly I run my fingers down the bear\u2019s head, trying to find the spot Durene mentioned. The bear lets me do it\u2014it might be my insanity talking or my [Beast Tamer] class, but I have the sense that I can interact with him, at least to this level.<\/p>\n

My fingers run across something odd. Short hairs, bristly. The bear farts. I recoil and Durene gags. When the air clears I go back to the bear, coughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHm. That\u2019s<\/em> odd.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s right. A patch of the Mossbear\u2019s fur is indeed missing. It\u2019s hard to tell with my fingers, but my impression of the bear is that a good chunk of his fur is definitely absent near the nape of his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that there? Do you think someone cut it off when we were fighting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, there\u2019s no blood. And the fur\u2019s too neat. This was no accident but\u2026huh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another mystery. And not one the bear can solve; he eats all of the basket, turns, sniffs me, goes to crap in the woods and walks into his cave. That\u2019s about the extent of my interaction with him; I never claimed I would be best pals with him, nor is this Winnie the Pooh.<\/p>\n

Lovely book. Not many people know that Winnie the Pooh came from a book written by an English author, long before he became a Disney animated character. But I digress.<\/p>\n

Durene and I leave the bear\u2019s cave and twenty meters later, Beniar rides out of the woods, practically shouting his amazement. The rest of the village clearly thinks I\u2019m insane and fearless by equal measures.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just more embellishment for my reputation as an [Emperor] if you want to be cynical, but I did it because I wanted to see if I could. I know something now. An [Emperor] can command more than people. I know this because the second test I did was to get a few dogs and march over to the fields where the first house\u2019s walls were already standing upright.<\/p>\n

A few rats survived the purge of two days ago. I sense a few under the earth. The dogs pad around me and warily edge back from Durene as I stand in the frozen snow. I point at the earth. At the rats hiding there.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

The earth shifts. Three rats wriggle out of the earth and the dogs bark and fall on them. I stare at the ground. One of the rats is staying put.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it doesn\u2019t work on all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you can command rats? Can you call me a deer? I\u2019d love to eat fresh meat for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene looks wistfully at me. I shrug.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorth a shot. If I expand the boundaries of my domain, I could try it. Not all of the animals obey me entirely, though. Maybe if I level up as [Beast Tamer]\u2026or is it [Emperor] that decides it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDunno. Look! Ew! One of the rats is in pieces!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just as glad I can\u2019t. Durene, could you kick up the dirt right here, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

She does so obligingly. I failed to mention the rat. I didn\u2019t think it would be an issue, but when it ran up Durene\u2019s leg and she screamed\u2014well, I supposed I didn\u2019t think to ask how afraid of rats Durene is. It took several apologies and some cuddling that night to calm her down. But on the whole? Another successful day.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Beast Tamer Level 7!]<\/p>\n

[Skill \u2013 Animals: Basic Command Obtained!]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWow. I\u2019ll finally be able to make Frostwing stop crapping on my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWha\u2026? Laken, you say something? It\u2019s late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Day 66<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s just past midnight when I hear the pounding on Durene\u2019s door.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmperor Laken! Sire!<\/em> Please get up!\u201d<\/p>\n

The shouting wakes me and Durene in an instant. We untangle ourselves from the sheets and I\u2019m the first one at the door. I yank it open and Gamel\u2019s there, gasping and panting for air.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it, Gamel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Beniar! He\u2019s hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? How?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gamel opens his mouth and I hear a mortified cry from behind me.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken! Close the door!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

I realize Durene\u2019s in a considerable state of undress as it were. I leap through the doorway as Gamel ducks back, flushing and apologizing. Standing half-naked in the cold, I hear Durene banging around the inside as Gamel shuts the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry sire\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this about Beniar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe rode back to the village half-dead, sire! His own group found him as the first patrol never came back\u2014we\u2019ve got healing potions on him, but they\u2019re not working fully! Wiskeria says to come quick because she\u2019s got to mix up a brew!\u201d<\/p>\n

I leave the cottage at a run, stopping only to grab a coat. When Durene, Gamel and I get to the barn, there\u2019s a crowd of villagers around Beniar, staring and talking anxiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone move back! Give him space!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Being an [Emperor] has its advantages. The way clears and I can see Wiskeria bending over Beniar, mixing together something in a bowl.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an arrow in his stomach, and a half-empty healing potion on the ground beside him. Despite that, Beniar sounds closer to death than life. Wiskeria\u2019s telling his party not to give him any more of the healing potion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe poison\u2019s preventing it from working. The wound won\u2019t heal and you\u2019re wasting potion! Let me finish this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beniar croaks as I kneel by him. He\u2019s still conscious. Apparently he was on his horse and riding this way when his team found him. As for what happened, he insists on telling me himself. He can\u2019t sit up and has to whisper to me as I bend my head down.<\/p>\n

\u201cArrow. Got me and Fabiel while we were riding. Didn\u2019t even see\u2014Fabiel died in a second. I think\u2014I think it\u2019s poisoned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho shot the arrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoblins.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a whisper that silences everyone around him. I feel something begin churning in my gut. Of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive of them. They were waiting in ambush. Never seen\u2014heard they did it sometimes. But didn\u2019t expect\u2014they rushed the horses. Fabiel\u2019s is gone\u2014I got away. They didn\u2019t want to pursue. Just kill and loot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beniar choked as someone tried to give him water. He coughed it out and continued as Wiskeria grabbed at her pouch, searching for something to add to the paste she was making.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not just coming, sire. They\u2019re already here. Hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at him. Beniar down. One of my adventures dead. All while I\u2019d slept. All without me knowing. The Goblins weren\u2019t anywhere in the village, that I could vouch for. But beyond it? Suddenly, the limits of my senses made me feel as if I was blind all over again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to apply this. Beniar, we need to take the arrow out, understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiskeria brushes past me, not bothering with formalities. I step back and watch as Durene bends down to hold his legs. Someone else gets Beniar\u2019s arms\u2014he screams as Wiskeria pulls the arrow out and then applies the mash.<\/p>\n

The people around me are worried. Children are crying, families are hugging each other. And all eyes are on me. Only this time, I don\u2019t know what I should be doing. I search for words to reassure, and then hear something.<\/p>\n

A horn call in the distance. It wails\u2014a high, piercing sound that cuts through the night and makes the people of Riverfarm sit up and wake from their comforting dreams. It goes on for ten seconds, and then stops. Then it blows again.<\/p>\n

Mocking. Taunting us. Telling us that we are not alone. I can picture Beniar\u2019s pale face in the moonlight, Prost\u2019s worried expression, Odveig\u2019s intent eyes on his wound and Wiskeria\u2019s gaze. Hers traverses the room to find mine. What kind of gaze? Cold? Expectant? Waiting.<\/p>\n

They are here. They are coming. It turns out there\u2019s evil, real evil in this world, and it\u2019s not just us. It has a name. It hungers. It enjoys our suffering.<\/p>\n

It is my enemy. And I will hunt it down. I hear the horn call a third time before it fades. It\u2019s a prelude, an ending of the few moments of peace we have. They are coming.<\/p>\n

Goblins.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 61 \u00a0 I used to be afraid of getting up in the morning. Or rather, reluctant. There are days when I want to crawl into my warm blankets and hide. Sleep is an alluring thing. Funny. Having someone I love changes that. I feel Durene\u2019s presence when I sleep and when I wake\u2014she\u2019s inevitably […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693084,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693133],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-4131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-4","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n4.21 E - The Wandering Inn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2018\/03\/24\/4-21-e\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4.21 E\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Day 61 \u00a0 I used to be afraid of getting up in the morning. Or rather, reluctant. There are days when I want to crawl into my warm blankets and hide. Sleep is an alluring thing. Funny. Having someone I love changes that. 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